England’s women all but wrapped up the Six Nations title in Exeter and it is impossible to imagine Scotland denying them a grand slam at Twickenham next Saturday night. Sarah Hunter, back to lead the side with her 112th cap, scored one of their nine tries and the gusty winds at Sandy Park were never going to blow the home side off course.

Italy had come into the game as the only other unbeaten side in the competition but they were desperately disappointing. England could afford to make mistakes and spurn try-scoring chances in the first half. But their pack, with the lock Abbie Scott commanding at the lineout and the scrum dominant throughout, were too powerful for the visitors. As Scott took lineout after lineout it was hard to believe she had two broken fingers strapped up on her left hand.

England’s right-wing, Jess Breach, continued her phenomenal switch from sevens to the 15-a-side game. Breach scored two tries and might have had a hat-trick. She now has an astonishing 18 in six Tests.

Italy’s forwards were always going to mount a physical challenge but The Italian lock Valentina Ruzza, whose brother Federico was appearing at Twickenham later in the afternoon, weighs 116kg and made some early inroads into English territory.

England soon clicked into gear. They moved the ball wide and Zoe Harrison gave Breach the chance to score the first try in the corner. Italy spurned a gilt-edged chance when Beatrice Rigoni, who had been moved to fly-half, threw a loose pass to Aura Muzzo when the wing had the tryline in sight. The visitors almost paid a price when Breach was put clear down the touchline seconds later and Muzzo was forced into a try-saving tackle.

Italy were shortly under pressure in the scrum and, after they had been penalised, the Red Roses set off on a rolling maul and the hooker, Lark Davies, was driven over.

The result was virtually assured by the interval. Marlie Packer was held up over the line by Ilaria Arrighetti but the ball was recycled and Hunter just managed to touch down. The try bonus point was assured a minute after the break when England’s tight-head, Sarah Bern, battered her way over after peeling off the front of a lineout. The England scrum then won a ball against the head, Hunter powered forwards and slipped the ball to Packer to claim the fifth try.

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After another drive from a lineout the prop Vickii Cornborough was driven over before Breach showed off her pace and footwork to take Sarah McKenna’s pass and score her second. Scott was also driven over and England finished with a flourish when the replacement Vicky Fleetwood scored under the posts with the last move of the game.

Italy left the pitch looking crestfallen. It was difficult to believe they had come into this game with the best defensive record in the competition and had just beaten Ireland for the first time. England made a nonsense of that.

Their young flanker Sarah Beckett was outstanding again and named player of the match. “A record crowd, we couldn’t have asked for more,” Beckett said.